TERRY Murphy wants his men to ensure champions Styal’s poor start to the season continues on Saturday.

The Town boss is pleased with the way his new-look side is beginning to take shape, and they enjoyed a comfortable derby win in the cup over neighbours Barnton at the weekend.

Styal are currently on the crest of a slump, having won just two of five games at the start of their title defence.

Murphy wants to make that two in six. He said: “I don’t know why they have started poorly. Perhaps they have lost a few players, but then so have we.

“It is always a difficult place to go to. It is a small ground and somehow you always feel uncomfortable there. But we have got to go there and get a win.

“If we do that it will keep us in the hunt near the top, and have the added bonus of leaving the champions still scratching around somewhere near the bottom.”

After picking up no fresh knocks at Barnton, Murphy should have a full squad to choose from at Styal, with only medium-term injuries keeping Ryan Broadhead and Craig Stevens out.

In the derby, Dave Tasker gave them a early lead following a training ground short corner routine, but the hosts soon levelled.

The turning point arrived in the second half when John Edwards was felled in the box by the home keeper, and a Barnton defender was sent off for dissent before Gary Bryning slammed home from the spot. Tasker added a third late on, but in truth Middlewich should have scored many more before the close.

Malpas 2 Crewe FC 3

CREWE FC must now make home comforts pay after putting together two wins in four days.

Ian O’Reilly’s side is up to sixth in Division Two despite having played just one of their nine league games at home.

They put in their best performance of the season in a 2-0 success at Maine Road Reserves in midweek, before knocking Malpas out of the JB Parker Cup on Saturday.

They are finally back at the Cumberland Arena for the visit of Congleton Town Reserves at the weekend, and O’Reilly said: “We have done some of the season’s hard work away from home.

“It is not a bad return from all those away games, but now is the time to make sure it has all been worthwhile.

“We were outstanding at Maine Road – particularly in the first half. It was the best we have played for a long time and we ripped into them.

“They had the ball a lot in the second half but we stood strong and they didn’t trouble us.

“We didn’t play as well at Malpas, but the win was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. My assistant Steve Harding, who is picking the team, was able to name the same XI for the first time and that helped.

“There is no room for complacency against Congleton even though we won 5-0 at their place earlier this season. They’ll want to put things right and it will be tough.”

At Maine Road, a superb PJ Hudson double did the damage, with able assistance from winger Chris Hampshire in his first start of the season.

At Malpas, Hudson struck again to break the deadlock, but the hosts quickly levelled and then hit the front soon after the restart.

That was the start of an onslaught in which Crewe FC hit the woodwork five times and forced the home keeper to produce a number of breathtaking saves.

Eventually Jon Dawson found a gap to make it 2-2 with a quarter of an hour left and Joey Alcott popped up on 88 minutes to avoid extra time.